This travel planning resources page contains all the links you will need when planning your travels.
After travelling multiple times a year for 20+ years, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on travel resources – and packing light, though admittedly, that took me a lot longer to master!
Use my tried and tested favourites to ensure your next trip abroad is stress free – the links are all to websites showcasing products I use for planning and executing my own jaunts across the globe, every time. They are all recommended based on my great experience of them.
MY TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
This post may contain affiliate links which means that I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, for qualifying purchases. For more information, read our disclaimer.
LOOKING FOR FLIGHTS?
Flight Search Engines
Google Flights is my go to when I want to search flights and timings, etc. It’s a great way to find flights for your upcoming trip. You can search for flights by destination and date, and you can also compare prices between different airlines. Google Flights also offers a price alert feature, which will notify you when the price of a flight you’re interested in drops below a certain amount.
Skyscanner is where you can compare and book flights, using pretty much every airline you can think of. What I love about Skyscanner is the multi-city feature where you can search flights going across a multitude of destinations. If you’re flexible with your timings and dates, you’ll be able to find fantastic deals using Skyscanner.
Kiwi.com is another one of my go-to resources when looking for cheap flights. I use this in conjunction with Skyscanner, but will book through Kiwi as they find the absolute cheapest flights, even if it means flying with a different airline each way. We did just that when we flew to Porto for the weekend; EasyJet one way and Wizz Air on the return journey.
Omio is a journey planner where you can compare trains, buses, flights and ferries in Europe, the US and Canada.
LOOKING FOR WHERE TO STAY?
My Go-To Accommodation Platforms
Booking.com has always been my go to accommodation platform. I find that it is the most comprehensive way to book accommodation as they have various types of hotels, apartments and resorts available to choose from. Complete with guest reviews, maps and plenty of photos, this is by far my favourite platform.
TripAdvisor is the best place to find unbiased reviews before you book any accommodation. My favourite thing to do is filter by ‘terrible’ reviews first to see what people are saying before I make my decision.
Expedia and Hotels.com both often have competitive prices on hotels, so I like to check there too before I book – just in case.
Agoda is a great platform specifically when looking for hotels in Asia. Their rates are often a lot more competitive in comparison to the other.
BOOKING AN EXCURSION?
Here’s Where I Like To Book My Tours!
GetYourGuide is the most comprehensive of resources to help plan excursions on your next trip! With an extensive catalogue of activities and attractions to choose from in destinations all over the world, GetYourGuide makes it easy to find what you’re looking for and book ahead. GYG is the most popular option for booking trips in Europe or Asia.
Klook, similarly to GYG is another travel planning tool for booking activities, but brilliant for SE Asia travel in particular. Prices can vary between the two platforms, but when travelling around Asia, Klook often come out on top for me. People say their reviews and customer service isn’t great, however I have to say that I’ve never had a problem with them.
Viator is another resource for finding and booking travel activities. Day tours can be so hard to find and Viator make it easy, with transparent ratings and great options around the world. Whether you’re looking for a city tour, tickets to a show, or a day trip out of town, Viator has it all. This is the most popular platform for booking trips in the US.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Transportation Recommendations
Discover Cars is a global car rental comparison website. Renting a car in a foreign country can often be the best way of exploring, especially if you like to take it at your own pace. This my go to for renting cars abroad as they offer some great deals.
Trip.com makes it easy to search routes and compare available train tickets. You can also use it to book rail journeys across Europe, making it a handy option for trips that involve travelling between several destinations without hiring a car.
12Go allows you to compare and book land and water transport for journeys in advance, in South East Asia and Oceania. Tickets can be booked for trains, ferries, busses, flights and taxi travel in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, India, China, Malaysia, Philippines and many more destinations.
MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is the way to go if you are looking for travel insurance with essential medical and travel coverage at low premiums. This is the best travel insurance for digital nomads, expats and solo female travellers.
World Nomads is the ideal choice if you need a more comprehensive plan. The policy covers various medical conditions, as well as a wide range of sports and activities. The company offers reliable protection for gear, equipment, and travel documents as well.
eSIMs
Airalo is an eSIM; one app is all it takes to prepare your phone for international travel before leaving the house. It creates a sense of normalcy by keeping your phone number while travelling and effortlessly switching between multiple sims cards (without the fear of losing one along the way). This is great for short trips and multi country trips, but for longer stays, a physical sim card does work out to be better value for money.
Using your debit card abroad
Monzo allows you to pay anywhere in the world, in any currency using your debit card, fee-free. You no longer need to convert a ton of currency you may or may not need and simply use their app. Monzo pass Mastercard’s exchange rate directly onto you, without any fees. You can also make fee-free cash withdrawals at ATM’s abroad, limited to £200 per calendar month and there are no spending fees by using your card as normal.
How to get paid when your flight is delayed
Things don’t always go as planned on the road. Lost luggage, delayed flights and more can derail your trip.
AirHelp help travellers secure compensation when flight delays and cancelations strike. They can help you with compensation if:
- If your flight originates or arrives in the EU
- Delays of over three hours where the airline is at fault (no weather delays)
- Flights canceled within 14 days of departure and no suitable alternative is offered
- Overbooked flights
- Missed connections due to delay, cancelation, or overbooking
- Lost or damaged luggage
In order to be completely transparent, I make a small commission through these affiliate links (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and purchase something. This allows me to keep creating all the FREE content and resources that I share with you across my platforms.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping Nishi V running!